i.MX6 Series Processors

Freescale Semiconductor's i.MX6 series unleashes the industry's first truly scalable multicore platform that includes single-, dual- and quad-core families based on the ARM® Cortex™-A9 architecture. Together with a robust ecosystem, i.MX6 series provides the ideal platform to develop a portfolio of end devices based on a single hardware design.

With high-performance multimedia processing, pin*- and software- compatible product families and integrated power management, i.MX6 series is purpose built for the new era of smart devices.

i.MX6 Overview

The market for intelligent, multimedia centric, touch-based devices is increasing exponentially. Tomorrow’s battery-powered smart devices, auto infotainment and in-flight entertainment systems, medical systems, personal and enterprise class intelligent control and data systems, and new classes of devices never before seen need to present data and user interface choices to the end user primarily through rich sound, video, voice, pictures and touch, rather than keyboards and mice. The need for manufacturers to quickly provide multiple devices to fit specific market segments or niches and provide their customers with a broader range of choices is increasing just as quickly.

The i.MX6 series was designed specifically to enable this new market by bringing together high-performance scalable multimedia processing, a software-compatible family of solutions with integrated power management so that a manufacturer can deploy a full portfolio of products with a single hardware design.

SoloLite

The i.MX6SoloLite family introduces a single core running up to 1.0 GHz with 256 KB of L2 cache and 32-bit DDR3/LPDDR2 support. Targeted integration of an electronic paper display (EPD) controller makes it an ideal solution for next generation e-readers and other emerging consumer and embedded devices using EPD technology.

SoloX

The i.MX6SoloX family introduces single cores running up to 1.0 GHz (Cortex-A9) and 200 MHz (Cortex-M4) with 256 KB of L2 cache and 32-bit DDR3/LPDDR2 support. Integrated LVDS, FlexCAN, and PCIe Express enables the i.MX6SoloX to be a low-power and flexible platform for consumer, automotive and industrial applications that require real-time responsiveness and a higher levelof system integrity.

Solo

The i.MX6Solo family provides a single core running up to 1.0 GHz with 512 KB of L2 cache and 32-bit DDR3/LPDDR2 support. Integrated LVDS, MIPI display, MIPI camera port, HDMI v1.4, FlexCAN and MLB enables the i.MX6Solo to be a flexible platform for consumer, automotive and industrial applications.

DualLite

The i.MX6DualLite family introduces dual cores running up to 1.0 GHz with 512 KB of L2 cache, and 64-bit DDR3 or 2-channel, 32-bit LPDDR2 support. With integrated FlexCAN and MLB busses, PCI Express, LVDS, and support for MIPI cameras and displays as well as HDMI v1.4, the device is a great fit for consumer, automotive and industrial multimedia centric applications.

Dual

The i.MX6Dual family provides dual cores running up to 1.2 GHz with 1 MB of L2 cache, and 64-bit DDR3 or 2-channel, 32-bit LPDDR2 support. Leveraging the same integration of the i.MX6Quad family, the i.MX6Dual provides a scalable solution for consumer, automotive and industrial applications.

Evaluation Boards

i.MX6SoloLite Evaluation Kit

Freescale delivers the next installment in a line of highly-flexible, market-focused development tools with an Evaluation Kit (EVK) based on the i.MX6SoloLite applications processor. The i.MX6SoloLite is the first system-on-a-chip (SoC) incorporating a high-performance 1 GHz ARM® Cortex™-A9 CPU and integrated E Ink® and Sipix® display controllers to drive current and next-generation electronic paper display (EPD) panels.

This EVK enables EPD and/or LCD or HDMI display, touch control, audio playback as well as the ability to add WLAN, a 3G modem or Bluetooth® technology. Additionally, the EVK was designed to facilitate software development with the ultimate goal of faster time to market through the support of both Linux® and Android™ operating systems.

The SABRE board for smart devices simplifies product design with a low-cost, feature-rich development platform that allows developers to work with the majority of the processor’s primary features with the corresponding software support. There are two unique SABRE boards for smart devices — one based on the i.MX6Quad applications processors (also used for i.MX6Dual development) and one based on the i.MX6SoloX applications processor.

SABRE Platform for Smart Devices Based on the i.MX6 Series

The Smart Application Blueprint for Rapid Engineering (SABRE) platform for smart devices allows you to hold in your hands and evaluate the full multimedia performance capabilities of i.MX6 series applications processors based on ARM® Cortex™-A9 technology.

Targeted for any device requiring an intelligent display, connectivity, low power and amazing user experience, the SABRE platform for smart devices provides a foundation for enabling new product designs in markets such as portable computing, education, industrial, medical and home automation. With system-level power and performance optimizations and an easy to use form factor, the SABRE platform for smart devices can help accelerate your design from production to market.

Broad operating system support includes Android™, Linux® and Windows® Embedded (via third-party). Freescale's highly optimized board support packages (BSPs), codecs and middleware maximize the capabilities of the i.MX6Quad and i.MX6DualLite feature sets while minimizing overall power consumption.

SABRE Board for Smart Devices Based on the i.MX6 Series

The Smart Application Blueprint for Rapid Engineering (SABRE) board for smart devices introduces developers to quad-core processing, low power consumption and bleeding-edge multimedia and graphics applications on the i.MX6Quad applications processor based on the ARM® Cortex™-A9 core.

The SABRE board for smart devices was created to simplify product design by offering a low-cost, feature-rich development platform that allows developers to work with the majority of the i.MX6Quad processor’s primary features while remaining schematically compatible with their i.MX6Quad, i.MX6Dual, i.MX6DualLite and i.MX6Solo designs. This helps to reduce time to market by providing a basic product design and serves as a launching point for more complex designs.

The SABRE board for smart devices was also designed to minimize lab desk clutter by placing connectors on only two edges of the board. This enhances physical stability and reduces the octopus effect, which is common to boards. The SABRE board for smart devices includes complete hardware design files, board support packages (BSP) for Android™ and Linux® and a bootable SD card containing an Android BSP image.